Twist unlock and downward push disengage needle unlocker system

Abstract

The present invention preferably comprises a method and several apparatus embodiments for needle unlocking and disengagement by a single straight-through insertion of the needle to the needle hub, twist unlocking and push through and pull back disengagement. In addition, it is preferable to adapt the relatively small "footprint" of the needle unlocking and disengagement device for placement at the end of a splash and aerosol protective cylinder whereby the external cylindrical body surface of the syringe or vacuum tube adapter lies relatively close to the inside wall of the protective cylinder upon insertion of the syringe or vacuum tube adapter for needle unlocking and disengagement.

We claim: 
     
       1. A needle unlocker comprising: two or more unlocking, downward flexure lugs extending substantially toward each other in a plane from a lug plate, wherein adjacent edges of the lugs define an aperture with an intersection spacing smaller than a needle hub top rim diameter.   
     
     
       2. The needle unlocker of claim 1 wherein four unlocking, downward flexure lugs define an aperture with substantially a +-cross shaped opening. 
     
     
       3. The needle unlocker of claim 1 wherein two unlocking, downward flexure lugs define an aperture with substantially an  shaped opening. 
     
     
       4. The needle unlocker of claim 1 wherein three unlocking, downward flexure lugs define an aperture with substantially a  shaped opening. 
     
     
       5. The needle unlocker of claim 1 wherein four unlocking, downward flexure lugs define an aperture with substantially a +-cross shaped opening, wherein two adjacent edges directly opposite each have straight, parallel edges defining an aperture distance substantially less than the aperture distance defined by two other adjacent edges directly opposite each other whose adjacent edges are substantially pointed. 
     
     
       6. The needle unlocker of claim 1 wherein two unlocking, downward flexure lugs define an aperture with substantially an  shaped opening, wherein each adjacent edge directly opposite another adjacent edge additionally comprises a single triangular projection toward the other adjacent edge reducing aperture width over substantially less than the entire width of the adjacent edge. 
     
     
       7. The needle unlocker of claim 6 wherein aperture width is reduced by the triangular projection by about 0.7 mm. 
     
     
       8. The needle unlocker of claim 1 wherein unlocking, downward flexure lugs are adapted to be sufficiently stiff to resist an unlocking twisting motion from a device-attached needle hub and flexible enough such that pushing of an unlocked needle hub rim past the unlocking, downward flexure lugs may be accomplished with hand pressure. 
     
     
       9. The needle unlocker of claim 1 wherein unlocking, downward flexure lugs are supportively attached to and substantially close a first end of two ends of a splash shield conduit additionally comprising a passage shorter than the length of a device of a device-attached needle and open at a second end, wherein the second end and passage are adapted to supportively permit insertion of the device for unlocking and disengagement of the device-attached needle from the device. 
     
     
       10. The needle unlocker of claim 9 wherein a lateral cross section of the passage is substantially the shape as a lateral cross section of the device and a lateral diameter of the passage is slightly larger than a lateral diameter of the device. 
     
     
       11. The needle unlocker of claim 10 wherein the lateral cross section of the device is circular and the passage is longitudinally shorter than a device barrel by at least about one inch. 
     
     
       12. The needle unlocker of claim 9 wherein the second end of the splash shield conduit is supportively attached at its rim to an opening in a removable top for a sharps container such that the splash shield conduit projects into the sharps container. 
     
     
       13. The needle unlocker of claim 12 wherein the sharps container additionally comprises a large opening in its removable top, the large opening being adapted to permit disposal of large objects into the sharps container and is located next to the second end opening of the splash shield conduit such that a door is adapted to latchably completely close those two openings from re-emergence of needle points from the sharps container. 
     
     
       14. The needle unlocker of claim 13 wherein the door comprises a flexible plastic hinged between a zone described at latchable closure of the door over the two openings, the zone being that part of the door just above and between the large opening and the second end opening of the splash shield conduit, and adapted to releasably open the door above the second end opening of the splash shield conduit while latchably completely closing the door above the large opening. 
     
     
       15. The needle unlocker of claim 13 wherein the removable top comprises latching means on the top thereof adapted to secure the door to the removable top on closure over the two openings, the latching means further comprising shield means for latch apertures associated with the latching means, whereby the shield means are adapted to prevent re-emergence of needles from the sharps container. 
     
     
       16. A method for needle unlocking and disengagement comprising: (a) two or more unlocking, downward flexure lugs extending substantially toward each other in a plane from a lug plate, wherein adjacent edges of the lugs define an aperture with an intersection spacing smaller than a needle hub top rim diameter;   (b) inserting a device-attached needle hub into the aperture;   (c) unlocking and disengaging the needle from a device to which it is attached by twisting motion without substantial lateral motion to engage the unlocking, downward flexure lugs; and   (d) pushing past adjacent edges the needle hub top rim by flexure of the unlocking, downward flexure lugs, whereby the needle is released entirely from engagement with unlocking, downward flexure lugs.   
     
     
       17. A system for needle unlocking and disengagement within a removable top for a sharps container comprising: (a) a needle unlocker with two or more unlocking, downward flexure lugs extending substantially toward each other in a plane from a lug plate, wherein adjacent edges of the lugs define a needle unlocking aperture with an intersection spacing smaller than a needle hub top rim diameter.   
     
     
       18. A system for needle unlocking and disengagement of claim 17 wherein: (b) a large opening associated closely with the needle unlocker and a door for completely closing the large opening and needle unlocker aperture from re-emergence of needle points;   (c) needle cover unlocking and support means comprising one or more two-end conduits adapted to extend into the sharps container from one open end at the removable top and a closed end at the other end, whereby a needle cover will be supported with its top above the level of the removable top; and   (d) a vacuum tube adapter holding conduit comprising a conduit adapted to extend into the sharps container from one open end at the removable top and a closed end at the other end, whereby a vacuum tube adapter will be supported with its top above the level of the removable top.